Nehemiah 9:6

You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Levites address the assembled Israelites during a corporate worship gathering, following their call to bless God and preceding their recounting of Israel's covenant history. They speak as representatives of the community declaring God's identity and acts.

The words — The phrase אַתָּה־ לְבַדְּךָ֒ (at·tah le.vad.de.kha) literally renders "you alone," isolating divine exclusivity. The verb עָשִׂיתָ (a.Si.ta) translates "you made," directly assigning the act of creation to God's agency.

The thread — The creation claim mirrors Genesis 1:1, which opens with God forming the heavens and earth, and aligns with Revelation 4:11, which grounds all creation in God's will. The exclusive lordship declaration parallels Isaiah 37:16, which identifies Yahweh as the sole deity over all earthly kingdoms.

Why it lands — The text states that God alone originated and sustains every visible and invisible realm, and that all created hosts direct worship toward Him. It requires the reader to acknowledge that existence and reverence are derived solely from God, demanding alignment of belief and practice with that factual claim.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אַתָּה־'a.tah-you ה֣וּאhu'he יְהוָה֮Yah.weh[are] Yahweh לְבַדֶּךָ֒le./va.de./Khato/ alone/ you אַתָּ֣ה'atyou עָשִׂ֡יתָ'a.Si.tayou made אֶֽת־'et-<obj.>הַשָּׁמַיִם֩ha./sha.ma.Yimthe/ heavens שְׁמֵ֨יshe.Mei[the] heavens of הַשָּׁמַ֜יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all צְבָאָ֗םtze.va.'A/mhost/ their הָאָ֜רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ earth וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherthat עָלֶ֙יהָ֙'a.Lei./ha[is] on/ it הַיַּמִּים֙hai./ya.Mimthe/ seas וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherthatבָּהֶ֔םba./Hem[is] in/ themוְאַתָּ֖הve./'a.Tahand/ you מְחַיֶּ֣הme.chai.Yeh[are] preserving alive אֶת־'et-<obj.>כֻּלָּ֑םku.La/mall of/ them וּצְבָ֥אu./tze.Va'and/ [the] host of הַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavensלְךָ֥le./Khato/ youמִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים׃mish.ta.cha.Vim[are] bowing down

King James Version

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Cross-references

Isaiah 37:16 “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”
Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 Kings 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Jeremiah 10:11 Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”